Anyone know about these babies ? The spiel suggests replacing a 115 Hp with their 80 Hp 4 stroke jet drive ? Seems interesting in theory. Nice idea for ski/dive/rescue applications etc.
Yep, you are right, I have read the small print and, as always, there is a loss of efficiency with the jet drive. Still an interesting option if a prop presents a hazard. Typical, no sign of them on the European website.
Not sure if they operate to well with deep vee hulls, tend to need flat water for pick up louvres to pick up well, again not sure of their ability to helm at very low speeds.
I tend to think if they were excellent operationally bodies such as RNLI would specify them already.
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New boat is here, very happy!
Simon www.luec.org
Outboard jets are not a new thing as for a few years now we have been supplying the Mercury 80 outboad jet and Mercury 30 and Mercury 20 to the Polish Water Police
The Mercury 115 is installed on all of their 5.5 mtr cabin patrol boat and only for the Warszawa Water Unit due to shallow water the Mercury 80 Jet is fitted. The outboard jet is the only answer for shallow water operations.
The engine is fitted higher on the transom and the lower unit ie the pump will fit all brands of the same HP. The pump requires regular lubrication to avoid fast wear of the impeller
I attach two photos and the one with the hard boats on the water is actually confusing for those who know the area. Police cars normally park there and drive into the garages. The photo was taken during the great flood a few years ago and the normal water surface is about 4 mtrs lower down an embankment to the right of the photo.
the other photo is of a Quicksilver aluminium boat fitted out with a console and Mercury 30 outboard jet, The upper unit is actually the Mercury 40HP.
we have not yet put any of these jet units on a rib so cannot comment on the performance. Such requirement may however come along .
